culture, shopping
Maybe someone close to you is up for a slightly different birthday fiesta. Chicago is actually ringed with pinata stores! Recently I found one of the La Dulceria Mexicana branches at 6718 N. Clark, inside an inauspicious strip mall, but check their website www.dulcelandia.com and you'll find 
the others. They are a kind of Spanish culture party store. Pinatas are brightly colored papier mache decorations with a purpose since they're filled with wrapped candies and small toys.
The object is to blindfold players, one at a time, who try break the pinata with a stick or a bat, resulting in a shower of goodies for all to share. It's not easy to do, especially since someone savvy is raising and lowering the pinata constantly.
Excitement always builds. I remember one of my sons ending up in tears at his own birthday, so you may want to consider a bit of adult cheating to ensure that everyone has fun.
I think this tradition is great for children's parties and it's good for Christmas or any other holiday. A gifted party giver could alter theme, favors, etc. at will.
The large and varied selection of pinatas is inspirational in itself. There are animals, cars, balls for all sports and of course superheroes. These places offer lots of candy, pre-packaged to go as well as many accessories that one can add. Package deals are available for the lazy in several price ranges. Or, you can add your own contents and favors. I was enthusiastic about some of the celebratory candles available at reasonable prices and pictured in the lower photo.
In addition to the four Chicago stores there are others in Aurora, Melrose Park and Cicero.
La Dulceria Mexicana's office is at 773.523.8105.
There was an interesting piece on NPR several years ago about pinatas of all things. They were discussing how most of the pinatas of popular culture characters are all copyrighted images and how periodically companies like Walt Disney would come in and shut down all these stores that sold the pinatas because the stores weren't licensed to make and sell the pinatas. Disney went on to say that they could purchase licensing rights to make and sell the pinatas but the shop owners would have to pay thousands of dollars. Many shops closed (at least until Disney stopped paying attention to them). Very strange piece as I remember.
Posted by: kmarta | July 04, 2007 at 07:50 AM